Time with Jesus - Sunday, 28 October 2012
Hi all,
The Christian life is not all harps and flowers. Much
of it is a battle against the powers of darkness. Some refer to this fight as “spiritual
warfare”. In that sense we are in the “Lord’s army”. Indeed, He has told us
that we have His authority and that “nothing shall hurt you”. But that doesn’t
mean we should become sloppy, idle and disinterested in this war. We need to be
in a state of preparedness; alert and watching. The Lord has provided us with “armour”
and “weapons” for the battle. Wear it! Use the weapons and win.
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Sunday, 28 October 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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THE
FIGHT
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Authority can be a frightening thing. Lord Acton is quoted as having
said, “Power Corrupts; Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”. He was not the first
person who brought an expression into English. But it is appropriate that it
be quoted by an Englishman.
Absolute power was considered the birth-right of most of the monarchs
of history. One of the best known is the sad saga of King Henry 8 and the struggle
for power after his death. This is not the place to give a history lesson.
Sufficient to say that Henry broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and
established the Church of England with himself as head. He became
anti-Catholic. He had two daughters and a son. Princess Mary was a convinced
and fanatical Roman Catholic. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Edward were in
favour of the Church of England. Henry defined the line of succession after
his death would be Edward, then Mary then Elizabeth. Edward continued his
father’s Church of England reforms. When he died he was succeeded by Mary.
Queen Mary, often called Bloody Mary, assumed absolute power and England
experienced one of the most violent and bloodthirsty reigns of terror as she
did everything in her power to restore Roman Catholicism to England. Among
those who were burned at the stake were Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, Bishop Hugh
Latimer and Bishop Nicholas Ridley often referred to as the Oxford Martyrs.
Such was the authority of the monarch of the day. We also have a
monarch. King Jesus. He also has absolute power and authority. But His power
is endless. He has also delegated His power to His people. We have His
authority over all the forces of the devil. So although His people come and
go through death, the authority devolves on the next generation of those who
make Him their Lord and King. Jesus told the 72 when they reported back to
Him 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the
enemy, and you can walk among snakes and
scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. Luke 10:19 NLT After His resurrection and prior
to His ascension he appeared to his disciples. It is recorded 18 Jesus came and told His disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore,
go and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Matt. 28:18-19 NLT. In this regard,
nothing has changed since He walked among us 2000 years ago. He has delegated
His authority to you and me. Whether or not we use it is up to us. Satan and
his cohorts continue to try and usurp this authority. They will if they can.
Whether or not they succeed is up to us. The Blood of Jesus provides us with
all we need to win. If we don’t, there is only ourselves to blame.
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
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19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents
and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy,
and nothing shall hurt you.
Luke 10:19
ESV
8 Stay alert! Watch out
for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion,
looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter
5:8 NLT
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
ESV
11 Put on all the armour
that God supplies. In this way you can take a stand against the devil's strategies.
12 This is not a wrestling
match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities,
the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that
control evil in the heavenly world. 13 For this reason, take up all the armour that God supplies.
Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have
overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground. 14 So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your
waist like a belt. Put on God's approval as your breastplate. 15 Put on your shoes so that you are ready to spread the
Good News that gives peace. 16 In
addition to all these, take the Christian faith as your shield. With it you
can put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Ephesians
6:11-16 GW
8 Do not gloat over me,
my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness,
the LORD will be my light.
Micah 7:8
NLT
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There’s never been a question about authority.
The Lord has given lots of it to folk like you and me.
The enemy can’t hurt us; no matter how he tries.
We stand on snakes and scorpions, regardless of their size.
There is nothing to it and we won’t come to harm.
So don’t get excited or raise a false alarm.
Of course we must be careful; he’s always on the prowl;
He wants us to be frightened and to throw in the towel.
A master of disguises, we hear a lion roar.
We think he wants to eat us. But he can do no more.
Than make a lot of noises. But he’s no more than that.
When Jesus Christ is in you, he’s a toothless pussy-cat.
Show him some resistance and he will turn and flee;
When you’re in submission to the Christ of Calvary.
If you are a soldier and have to go to war.
To fight the devil’s forces and bust them on the jaw.
There’s a list of armour that you will surely need.
To stand against the devil and foil his evil creed.
This is not a contest, against some human foe,
You will need God’s armour, everywhere you go.
Wrestle with the rulers and the powers of the air.
They will not surprise you, if you constantly prepare.
Have God’s truth around you like a belt about your waist.
With His righteous breastplate, that army can be faced.
Don’t forget the sandals to wear upon your feet.
They will keep you moving and his forces can be beat.
Sandals of the good news. The gospel that brings peace.
Sharing it with others, will bring them their release.
Don’t neglect the shield of faith, to carry in your hand;
To quench the fiery arrows, preventing them to land,
Upon you or your brothers. The enemy you’ll foil,
And his plans for victory forever you will spoil.
Salvation is the helmet you wear upon your head.
If you are not wearing it you may as well be dead!
Praying in the Spirit is a weapon you can wield.
And there is another which makes the devil yield.
The Word of God is mighty. So use it as your sword.
You cannot be beaten while Jesus is your Lord.
Jim Strickland
Written 28th October 2012 |
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